FWC report highlights some cases in Brevard County

The following report highlights some cases the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission handled in Brevard County over the past week but does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement.

EDITOR’S NOTE:The following report highlights some cases the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission handled in Brevard County over the past week but does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement.

Officer Dubose received a complaint that a man on Sebastian Inlet State Park’s north jetty had caught and kept a lemon shark.

After arriving and conducting resource inspections in the area, Officer Dubose was able to find the lemon shark in the man’s possession. It is illegal to harvest lemon shark in Florida. A citation was issued for the offense.

Lieutenant Lightsey received information that subjects were keeping undersized permit at Sebastian Inlet State Park.

Upon arriving and beginning to conduct inspections, a subject was found to be in possession of five undersized permit. A citation was issued for possession of over the bag limit and undersized permit.

FWC Captive Wildlife Investigator Saunders was notified by Brevard County Animal Services that while conducting an investigation at a residence, they observed two Florida native pygmy rattlesnakes being held in captivity.

The subject was not licensed to keep venomous reptiles. Investigator Saunders interviewed the subject and the subject admitted to having the rattlesnakes.

The subject was cited for possessing venomous reptiles without a permit and issued five warnings for caging violations. The subject released ownership of the rattlesnakes to FWC and they were released into the same wildlife management area from which they had been removed.